Restoring democracy in Venezuela requires respect for Venezuelan people's will, EU countries say

BRUSSELS, Jan 4 (Reuters) - European Union countries, with the exception of Hungary, on Sunday called for restraint by all actors in Venezuela, and said respecting the will of the Venezuelan people was the only way to restore the country's democracy.

"The European Union calls for calm and restraint by all actors, to avoid escalation and to ensure a peaceful solution to the crisis," the 26 EU countries and the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said in a statement.

"Respecting the will of the Venezuelan people remains the only way for Venezuela to restore democracy and resolve the current crisis," the statement added.